Mother rubbed her temples, her cheeks paling.
“Father.” Vivienne hugged him. “Talk to her. I think perhaps she is no longer under Dr. Tucker’s spell.”
“I’m happy you’re safe.” He kissed her forehead.
Not the reassurance she wanted to hear, but Father had every right to be angry.
There wasn’tmuch Samuel could do but let time pass.
William and Captain Jackson were searching Dr. Tucker’s flat in St. Giles. He’d wanted to join them, but since Dr. Tucker was aware that Mr. Lyon was Lion Boy, the captain had dissuaded him from coming.
As for the guards he meant to hire, so far, he hadn’t found anyone he trusted. Maybe he was too difficult to please.
So he was at home, spending time with his wife. Not that he was complaining. Quite the opposite.
Sitting on the piano bench next to her, he stared at her as she tried to teach him to play a tune. The sunlight lit the tips of her eyelashes with tiny glimmers of gold, making her whole lovely face glow.
She focused on the keys. “You need to press the keys like that to make the sound delicate and beautiful. Your turn. Repeat the sequence.”
He plunked the music away, causing a sparrow perched on the windowsill to fly away indignantly.
Vivienne laughed. “You’re doing it wrong.”
Yes, he knew that, but hearing her laugh was worth the scolding.
“Like this.” She gently placed her fingers over his. “Follow me.”
Everywhere.
She gave him a mischievous smile, pressing her fingers against his.
A sweet tune filled the air. But he wasn’t looking at the keys. He was looking at her intense face as she floated through the notes. Her radiance glowed again, like the full moon after an eclipse.
He didn’t hear the music, nor did he see what his fingers were doing. His only focus was on the sensation of her hands on his and the sweet sound of her laughter. Finally, he heard it again.
“See? It’s not difficult.” She stopped playing but kept her hands over his.
Not difficult at all. Falling in love with her was the easiest thing he’d ever done.
He dipped his head and kissed her, meaning only to give her a quick kiss. But she trapped his face in her hands and held him in place.
As she moved her lips over his, he let himself go into the sensation of the kiss. Even his fears—always lurking under the surface of his emotions—dimmed and became nothing more than scarecrows.
He held her by the waist and pulled her closer. Her breathing sped up.
“Samuel,” she whispered his name in a moan that triggered a shot of pleasure through him. “Can we go upstairs?”
He stood up, holding her hand, but Bernard entered the room, breaking the spell.
“The captain and William have just arrived and would like to talk to you, sir,” the butler signed.
Samuel shouldn’t complain, but…he did. He sighed and headed for the sitting room with Vivienne.
William and Captain Jackson were pacing and talking excitedly when Samuel entered.
“What is it?” Vivienne asked.
“We have him!” William waved a bunch of papers excitedly. “Everything you ever wanted about him.” He kept waving the papers in the air.
